Ashley Centers creates poetry to process her emotions.
Putting words to the page helps her sort through her toughest problems. However, Centers said she”s definitely a poet and not a performer.
“Sharing my work is the hardest damn thing,” she said.
Irish Martos | Rawr
Students and locals gather to watch performers like David Whitt at One World Cafe”s open mic night which is held the first Tuesday of every month.
Centers said the difficulties and live performance haven”t stopped her from participating in Moscow Spoken Word events.
The Moscow Spoken Word open mic nights take place from 8-10 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at One World Cafe.
Samantha Hansen, a UI student who helps organize the events, said the open mic nights have been held for two years, although she didn”t begin to actively participate in the events until last year.
If things go according to plan, though, Hansen said this will likely be her last semester in Moscow – so this fall, she is focusing on creating as wide of an outreach as possible.
“We want to create a lasting open mic night,” Hansen said.
Hansen said the open mic nights are very informal – anyone can show up and perform any kind of vocal or spoken word piece. With the notable exception of ironic bongo drums, artists are asked to leave their instruments at home.
This semester, Hansen said she hopes to begin featuring other spoken word events as well, such as poetry slams or invitationals with regional poets.
She said she also hopes to foster a similar spoken-word community in Pullman.
Centers said she hopes that by performing her poetry at the open mic nights, she can remind everyone listening that they are loved.
“I know there are others out there who are experiencing the same things and feelings and emotions, and who might feel alone because these things are so hard sometimes,” Centers said.
Centers said fostering these safe spaces full of artists and thinkers is incredibly valuable for local communities.
“There are so many talented people who are spreading important messages about activism and what it”s like to be one person in a huge oppressive world,” Centers said.
At the Tuesday night gatherings, which often draw out upwards of 50 people, Centers said many find an avenue to talk about what they might not otherwise get to.
“I write about living with a disability, and others” reactions to me,” Centers said. “I write about activism. I write about love and heartache and grief. I write about the human condition.”
Hannah Shirley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @itshannah7